The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that affirmed religious freedom for the Green family, founders and owners of Hobby Lobby stores is having positive implications for other faith-based organizations as well.
The court ruled last Thursday that Wheaton College is now exempt from imposing the HHS contraception mandate that goes against the schools closely held religious beliefs.
According to Life News, the Court’s order states that Wheaton “need not use the form prescribed by the Government” under the HHS Mandate, and it prohibits the government “from enforcing against [Wheaton] the challenged provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related regulations pending final disposition of appellate review.”
Pending the Hobby Lobby ruling, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty asked the Eleventh Circuit to step in to protect several nonprofit organizations.
“The Court rightly recognized that Wheaton’s religious community should be allowed to practice its faith free from crushing government fines,” said Mark Rienzi, Senior Counsel for the Becket Fund, which represents Wheaton College.
Last week the Eternal Word Television Network and five Catholic institutions in Wyoming were granted last minute relief from two federal courts of appeals.
Thirty-three years ago, Mother Angelica, a cloistered nun, founded a small television network in her monastery garage with a mission to spread the teachings of her Catholic faith. Today, Eternal Word has become the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day to televisions in more than 230 million homes in more than 140 countries and territories.
There are currently 100 lawsuits challenging the unconstitutional HHS mandate.
Publication date: July 7, 2014